8 Great Benefits of Onions

Never mind the tears they bring on–onions are an ace ally in your fight against disease. A prized member of the lily family, onions lavish you with health benefits while adding oodles of taste to your food. 

Not to mention you can buy a bundle from the grocery store for mere pennies.

Here’s a quick glimpse at their incredible health benefits:

• The phytochemicals in onions along with their vitamin C help improve immunity.
• Onions contain chromium, which assists in regulating blood sugar.
• For centuries, onions have been used to reduce inflammation and heal infections.
• Do you enjoy sliced onions with your food? If yes, rejoice! Raw onion lowers the production of bad cholesterol (LDL), thus keeping your heart healthy.
• A powerful compound called quercetin in onions is known to play a significant role in preventing cancer.
• Got stung by a honeybee? Apply onion juice on the area for immediate relief from the pain and burning sensation.
• Onions scavenge free radicals, thereby reducing your risk of developing gastric ulcers.
• Those bright green tops of green onions are rich in Vitamin A, so do use them often.

Which type of onions are the healthiest? Researchers from Cornell studied 11 onion varieties, and found that shallots and Western yellow onions were the healthiest for their phenolic and flavonoid content.

8 Great Benefits of Onions

My favorite way to enjoy onions is to slice them really thin, squeeze some lemon juice on top and add a little salt. Sprinkling a few freshly washed cilantro leaves adds fragrance and flavor to this simple, quick salad, without which no dinner of mine is complete.

Here are some other ways to enjoy onions (click on the titles or images for the recipes):

1. Rustic Caramelized Onion Tart
2. Herby White Sweet Potato Foccacia with Onions
3. Crispy Baked Onion Rings
4. Homemade Pizza with Caramelized Onions, Blue Cheese and Thyme
5. Baked Blooming Onion
6. Garlic, Potato and Onion Soup
7. Roasted Stuffed Onions
8. Mujadara: Caramelized Onion, Lentil and Rice Stew

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